Cafe Philosophers

Published: May 9, 1998

To the Editor:

''Thought for Food: Cafes Offer Philosophy in France'' (Arts & Ideas, May 2) quotes Pascal Hardy, one of the founders of the cafe philosophy movement, as saying that he demurs at the suggestion that philosophy, like science, religion or psychoanalysis, could be construed as a ''refuge'' because philosophy is about ''doubt'' and ''questioning.''

But clearly doubt and questioning are not exclusive features of philosophy; science, religion and psychoanalysis also doubt and question plenty.

That which makes all disciplines, including philosophy, good candidates for refugedom is the trust that each devotee develops for the respective methodologies.

Methodology is the more or less permanent scaffolding each discipline erects to make ongoing necessary repairs.

BERNARD ROY

New York, May 4, 1998

The writer is an assistant professor of philosophy, Baruch College, CUNY.